Oak Park council approves first reading of administrative hearings ordinance and signs off on multiple contracts and budget amendment

Oak Park’s City Council on March 4 approved the first reading of an ordinance to create an Administrative Hearing Bureau intended to expedite code‑enforcement matters, and approved a slate of procurement items, pay applications and a budget amendment.

Administrative Hearing Bureau: Director Kimberly Maroney told council that current code‑violation cases routed through district court can take six months to over a year to resolve. The proposed ordinance would allow Oak Park to hire a magistrate by RFP, hear violations locally, issue orders requiring corrective work, and invoice property owners for work that can be rolled to taxes if unpaid. “This process will allow us to expedite the entire process and get them in front of an administrative hearing bureau quicker,” Maroney said. Council discussed candidate qualifications and directed that the RFP be issued promptly; staff said the human resources department had the job description ready.

Procurement and pay applications: The council awarded a $193,316 landscaping installation contract for the Corridor Improvement Authority project to Great Lakes Landscaping; authorized participation in the TIPS national purchasing cooperative to procure Event Hub furniture (vendor pricing and total furniture cost $55,898); approved pay application #1 and a balancing change order for the 2026 joint and crack sealing project totaling $201,385.20 (net) and approved final pay and change order for an asbestos abatement project at municipal campus buildings for final payment of $19,062 (including a $4,540 change order).

Franchise and other resolutions: City Attorney Krauss explained a uniform video service franchise renewal being transferred from AT&T to DIRECTV under state law; council approved the renewal by roll call. City Clerk Ed Norris and City Manager Eric Tungate presented temporary polling‑place relocations for the August election and ballot language for a public‑safety retirement millage renewal and a partial Headlee override; council approved the ballot language.

Budget amendment: Director of Finance Sandra Crawford summarized budget amendment 2026‑3 for the third quarter. Key elements: $240,000 in grant revenue to reimburse lost personal property tax revenue related to state exemptions, approximately $155,000 in salary and health‑care cost reallocations across funds, increased public safety training expenses offset by grants, higher street lighting costs tied to DTE rate increases, and design and capital adjustments tied to ongoing community center and streetscape projects. Crawford said the amendment has no net impact on general fund balance and keeps estimated fund balance near target.

What’s next: Council approved the first reading of the Administrative Hearing Bureau ordinance and the listed procurement and budget items; staff said RFPs and final contract paperwork would follow typical procurement timelines.